CAMDEN — With support from generous local businesses, Coastal Mountains Land Trust’s Trails Challenge is returning for its third year. Between July 31 and September 28, community members and guests of the Midcoast are encouraged to get outside for a hike, run, bike or paddle on any trail in the area and then log their miles at coastalmountains.org/trails.

While there is no cost to enter, every mile completed and logged by trail users will result in the donation of a dollar from a pool of challenge funds donated by local businesses in support of local trail stewardship.

All monies raised will support the construction, maintenance and stewardship of Coastal Mountain’s 50+ miles trails throughout the region year-round. For each of the eight weeks throughout the challenge, participants who log their miles will be entered into a drawing with a chance to win a trails related prize from one of our sponsoring businesses.

This year’s goal is to involve 325 participants and to log 15,000 miles – thereby raising $15,000 for local trails. Sponsors include Side Country Sports, Gartley & Dorsky Engineering, RAYR wine shop, Snow Sport & Spine, Front Street Shipyard, Strout & Payson, Viking, Trail Runners of Midcoast Maine and Blue Barrens Gin.

The Land Trust is hosting a kick-off event for the Trails Challenge on Saturday, July 31 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Thorndike Brook Trailhead the Round the Mountain Trail (located on Hope Street at the Hope/Rockport townline).

At approximately. 9:30 a.m., there will three group led outings for naturalist/hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers hosted by the Land Trust, Trail Runners of Midcoast Maine (TRoMM) and the Midcoast Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association (McNEMBA). Following the outings, everyone is invited back to the Thorndike Brook trailhead for refreshments until noon.

The Land Trust and partners will be offering a series of led hikes, nature walks, runs and rides with partners from TRoMM, McNEMBA, and Side Country Sports throughout the Challenge to encourage everyone to get out and explore new trails in new ways.